Attachment for washing machines



F. HENSON MTACHMENT FOR WASHING MACHINES May 22, 1923. v 1,456,271

Filed April 21 1921 ATTORNEY Patented May 22, 1923.

uNira FRED HENSON, 0F ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

PATENT oFFIcr.. u

ATTACHMENT FOR WASHING MACHINES.

Application led April 21, 1921.

This invention has reference to attachi ments for washing machines, and its object is to prevent the coupling of moving parts of the washing machine to the `source of power until the several parts are in proper position.

The invention has particular reference to cylinder washingmachines, in which the washing cylindery or drum is furnished with a section or lid capable of being opened for the insertion of the articles to be washed. The cylinder is driven by a shaft which is removed from one end of the cylinder when it is desired to place the articles inthe cylinder or to remove them therefrom and the shaft and lid are assembledwith the cylinder to effect the proper rotation of the cylinder and if not so assembled damage is liable to occur.

With the invention, an obstructing device is provided to. close the hole in the drive axle, and the arrangement is such that the lid must be placed on the cylinder, and a locking lever must be moved up into fasteners on the lid in turn moving the shaft obstructor out of obstructing position, so that the drive shaft can be pushed into gear, thus starting the cylinder. After the cylinder is started the lid cannot come open until the cylinder is stopped.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, withthe understanding, however, that the invention is not confined to yany strict conformity with ythe showing of the drawing, but may be changed and modified so long as such changes and modifications mark no material departure from Vthe salient features ofthe invention as expressed in the appended claims. f

In the drawing: l

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a washing machinenylnderwiththe lid .in place and Serial No. 463,137.'

closed and the obstructor out of the path of the driving gear or shaft.

AFig. 2 is an end view of the cylinder shown in Fig. 1 with the parts in the same position. Y

Fig. 3 is an end view of that end of the cylinder remote from the one shown in Fig. 2. p

Fig. 4 is a diametric section through the hub of the cylinder showing the obstructorl in position to permit the introduction of the driving shaft. j

Fig. 5 is a section similar to that of Fig. 4 but showing the obstructor in obstructing or interfering position.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the opposite end of the obstructor operating lever.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a washing machine' cylinder 1, which may be taken as indicative of the general type of washing machine cylinders. yThe cylinder is provided with heads 2, 3,'joined together by spaced longitudinal .slats 4. A certain number of slats 4 included within the limitsl of a dotted line 5 with these slats joined together in any appropriate manner comprise a lid so arrangedas to be bodily removable from the cylinder in the event that it is desired to gain access to the vwashing machine cylinder. `The cover 6 is provided near one end with latchl fingers 7, carried by blocks 8 or by other appropriate means, so that latch lends 9 on the ends of the lingers remote from the blocks 8 may be appropriately raised.

The cylinder 1 is provided at one end with a spider 10 held to the cylinder head by screws 11 or otherwise. carries-a hub 12 with a cross piece 13 leading oppositely therefrom and made v.fast by screws 14 or otherwise to the head. On the side of the hub 12 toward the head 2, the hub is formed with a recess 15 to accommodate one end 16 of a baily 17, said bail also having another end 18. The end 18 of the bail is radial to the head 3 and the lever end 16 is radial to the head 2, the two bail ends being joined by the intermediate portion 17 of the bail.

The end 18 of the bail `17terminates ina pin 19 entering the head 3 parallel with and close to the aXis of the spider 10, and

the end 16 of the bail 17 is formed with al nonfcircular ,assa e 20 0f 2./ size to receive The head 2` outer end ofthe hub 12 to move into a recess 24 opening into a non-circular passage 25, axial to the hub 12.

The passage 25 is shown in the particular form in the drawings as of triangular' shape but it is to be'understood that it may be square or of any other appropriate cross section, whereby a driven shaft receiving its motion from appropriate gearing, such as is employedin 'washing machines, may be inserted axially inthe hub 12 to impart rotary motion tothe cylinder 1.

When the bail 17 is moved to and is caught by the latches 7, the obstructor 23`is withdrawn fromthe 'passage 25, thus permitting the introduction of the ydrive shaft yshown in Fig. 5 at 26 and provided with a triangular or other shaped extension 27, 'depending Vupon vthe cross 'sectional form of the pas- 'sage 25.

When it is desired to gain access to the cylinder 1, the bail 17 is withdrawn from engagement with the latches 7 and moved sufficiently to release lthe cover v5. At the same time,`the releasing movement of the bail causes the end 16 to rock'the pin'22 and with it the obstru'ctor'23, which movementcan only occur where the shaft 26 is moved sufcien'tly to vcarry the end 27 out of the passage 425. Under the circumstances, the bail '17 will not A'move'towardthe first position far enough to car the obstructor 23 out of the 'p ath of the shaft extension 27 and consequently the cover 5 cannot be replaced, nor can the actuating mechanism of the cylinder be coupled up to the cylinder, so that they vcylinder mustL be closed and the bail 17 returned toflatched position with respect to the cylinder before the actuating mechanism will 'again become active to the driving mechanism of the cylinder.

While'in the'drawings, the lid 5 is shown as locked in place by the bail 17 moved in one direction into engagement. with the latches?, .it is to befunderstood that in some "typesof'machineathe bail moves in the opposite direction to that indicated in the drawings, and 'approaches the lid from the oppositeside, requiring the location of the latches oppositely to what is illustrated. It, therefore, follows that the lid and bail may be'arranged in either of two positions so lfar zals movement and locking is concerned, but, 'of course, the `principle 'of operation is the s'am'efin bothl cases, and the following claims are to be 'read asbroad enough to cover "'eitherof 'the two constructions, that is, the lid and bail maybe related as shown in the 'cliawi'ngs,"s'o`that "the bailmoves clockwise L't'o"latch,asshown in Fig. 2Q with the latches f'n the left lhand side 'of the cover, or the bail "and Icover may 'be'so'rel'ated that the bail wcmldfflfiave lto be moved counterclock:

,wise to engage and hold the cover, this being just the contrary to the showing of Fig. 2.

1What is claimed is 1. In a washing machine, a cylinder for containing articles to be washed, an axial support for the cylinder with a non-circular passage therein, driving means for the cylinder movable vinto and out of the passage, and obstructing means for the driving mean-s movable into and out of the passage.

2. In a washing machine, a rotatable container for the articles to be washed and providedwith an axial passage of non-circular cross section, a drive shaft for the container movable into andv out of the passage, and y obstructing means also vmovable into and out of the passage transversely of thel direction of movement ofthe drive shaft with respect to the passage.

3. Ina washing machine, 'a rotatable cylin- L der having an axial passage at one end' to receive a drive shaft for the cylinder, a lid constituting a portion of ,the peripheral part of the cylinder, latch members on the lid, abail moving in overriding relationtothe lid and under the latch members to hold the lid in place, said bail having 'an extension disposed at the end of the cylinder, and obstructing means for the axial passage of the cylinder carried by the bail extension whereby to effectively close the passage when the bail is out of engagement with the latches on the lid'.

4. In a washing machine, a cylinderfor containing articles to be washed, a hubprojecting from one end of the cylinder and provided with anaxial passage, an obstructing member movable with relation to the passage into and out of`obstructingrelation thereto, a =lid for the cylinder, a bail connected to the obstructing member and movable along the periphery of the cylinder. and latchm'ean's 'for the bail attached'to the lid to engage or release the bail.

5. In a washing machine, ,a cylindrical drum for 'containing articles to be washed and rotatable about a longitudinal axis, driving means adapted'to be detachably connected thereto, a peripherally located lid for the drum, snap latches'on the lid, a bail located on the drum and movable 'about the longitudinal axis thereof, said bail being movable over .the lid and into and out of engagement with the latches to hold or releaseQthe lid, and means connected with the bail for preventing the connection of the drum with the driving 'means when the bail is 'out of engagement with lthe latches.

6. lIn a washing machine, a rotatable drum for containingarticles to be washed, driving means adapted Ito be detachably connected thereto, said drum having a removable lid, a rockable bail supported at the ends of 'the Ydrum near Ithe "axis thereof, means for holding the'bafl 'in position to re1 tain the lid closed, and means connected With the bail for preventing the connection of the drum With the driving means When the bail is in position to release the lid.

T, In a washing machine, a rotatable drum for containing articles to be Washed, driving means adapted to be detachably connected thereto, a. Aperipheral lid for the drum, means for locking or releasing the lid, and means connected with said last-named means and operable when the latter is in position to release the lid, to prevent the connection of the drum with the driving means.

S. In a washing machine, a rota-table drum for containing articles to be Washed, a lid for the drum, means for holding the lid closed or release it for opening, means for driving the drum, and means under the control of the lid holding means for preventing the connection of the driving means to the drum unless the several parts are properly positioned.

9. In a washing machine7 a rotatable container, a .lid for closing an opening in said container, latching means on the lid7 means engaging with said latching means for holding the lid in place, driving means for the container, coupling means for connecting the driving means to the container, and means actuated by said engaging means to prevent the operation of the coupling means for connecting the driving means to the container when said engaging means is out of engagement With said lid latching means.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature.

FRED HENSON. 

